Written Answers

Monday 26 June 2000

Scottish Executive

Airports

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government with regard to exempting Aberdeen Airport from air passenger duty.

Sarah Boyack: No. The Highlands and Islands’ exemption was based on a sparsity of population criterion as a definition of peripherality. This also recognises the Highlands and Islands’ reliance on air services for essential transport links. The north-east of Scotland, including Aberdeen, does not meet the criteria for exemption. Aberdeen has also sustained a strong increase in passenger numbers since the introduction of APD. In the last decade, the annual number of passengers handled at Aberdeen has increased by 50% to 2.45 million per annum.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6937 by Sarah Boyack on 31 May 2000, whether the research papers on Caledonian MacBrayne which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre include all Scottish Office and Scotland Office research papers and, if not, whether these will be placed there as soon as possible.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive research papers on Caledonian MacBrayne have been placed in SPICe except in those cases where disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. The placing in SPICe of Scotland Office and Scottish Office research papers is a matter for the United Kingdom Government.

Cancer

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S1W-2232 by Susan Deacon on 30 November 1999 and S1W-4679 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, how many consultant clinical and medical oncologists were employed at each of the five Scottish specialist cancer centres in the year to September 1999 and how many patients were seen per consultant at each centre.

Susan Deacon: The number of consultant clinical and medical oncologists employed at each of the Trusts that contain the five Scottish specialist centres is shown in the attached table 1. The information is given in terms of whole time equivalent at 30 September 1999. The table should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  Table 1

  

 

Medical Oncologists


Clinical Oncologists




Scotland


11.1


36.3




Totals (5 Trusts)


11.0


33.1




Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust


2.6


4.0




Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust


0.6


3.6




Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust


-


2.0




Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust


3.8


8.8




North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust


3.9


14.6




  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Data at 30 September 1999 is provisional.

  3. It is assumed that the medical and clinical oncologists are working at the specialist centres within the Trust.

  4. The difference in the totals for Scotland and the totals for the five trusts is due to some consultants working part-time outside the main cancer centres.

  5. The two oncologists at Highland Acute Trust give both radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

  Table 2 shows the number of patient episodes per consultant at each centre for the year ending 31 March 2000. The figures in the table were arrived at by adding the number of patient episodes for each centre for medical oncology and for clinical oncology and dividing by the whole time equivalent consultant figures given in table 1. Patient episodes comprise inpatient, outpatient and day-case episodes. The number of patient episodes is not the same as the number of patients, as the number of visits by an individual patient varies according to the type and stage of the disease. The figures do not include outreach patients seen outwith the centre and do not show the total workload per consultant. The table should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  Table 2

  

 

Medical Oncology


Clinical Oncology




Aberdeen Royal Infirmary


3,265.8


1,649.5




Ninewells Hospital


5,538.3


2,436.7




Raigmore Hospital


-


2,569.5




Western General Hospital, Edinburgh


3,806.6


2,466.0




Western Infirmary, Glasgow


3,770.3


1,664.3




  Notes:

  1. Staffing data referred to in table 1 is collected once a year, as at 30 September, and does not reflect average staffing levels throughout the year to which the patient activity refers.

  2. Patient activity data is collected quarterly by ISD Scotland and is provisional for year ending 31 March 2000.

  3. Medical oncology data for Raigmore is recorded under clinical oncology.

Climate Change Levy

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted on the costs of implementation of the proposed climate change levy to Scotland and whether it will publish these costs.

Henry McLeish: As a UK taxation measure, the climate change levy is a reserved matter. The UK Government is not able to say with precision what the effects of the levy will be in specific areas, sectors or firms since this will depend upon many factors including take-up of various incentives to improve energy efficiency.

Climate Change Levy

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to advise businesses which are likely to be exempt from the climate change levy to apply for licences.

Henry McLeish: There are no proposals for a system of licences to enable organisations to gain exemption from the climate change levy. To obtain exemption, they will simply need to contract with their suppliers to purchase electricity from qualifying renewable sources, or invest in good quality combined heat and power generation. Larger energy-intensive companies may also enter into sectoral energy efficiency agreements to obtain discounts on their levy payments. Information on these opportunities is being disseminated to Scottish businesses by the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office.

Community Care

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local Abbeyfield societies or Abbeyfield Scotland were included in the consultation list for Regulating Care and the Social Services Workforce.

Iain Gray: Although neither Abbeyfield Scotland nor local Abbeyfield societies were on our original consultation list, Abbeyfield Scotland, the Abbeyfield Stewartry Society Limited and the Abbeyfield Dumfries Society Limited all provided detailed responses to the consultation exercise, and the points raised in their letters were given close consideration. Abbeyfield Scotland and local Abbeyfield societies will be included in the distribution list for the Policy Position Paper we intend to issue shortly.

Community Care

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports the role played by guide/communicators in the day-to-day life of deafblind people.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive provides support through grant funding to national voluntary organisations under sections 9 and 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 as amended.

  In the current financial year Deafblind UK and SENSE in Scotland have been awarded grants amounting to £68,300 and £22,650 respectively. This funding provides training to enable deafblind people to develop communication skills, and supports voluntary organisations in working with local authorities and health boards in developing services for deafblind people.

  The Social Work Services Inspectorate also published a report, Sensing Progress, in 1998. It examined the planning, delivery, commissioning and management of social work services for people with a visual or hearing impairment or dual impairment. The report was followed up by inviting responses from local authorities and by holding three seminars across Scotland on the issues raised in the report. Local authorities responded positively to the recommendations of Sensing Progress and a number are in the process of acting on the recommendation to set up multi-agency resource groups.

Community Care

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities in Scotland do not currently provide guide/communicator support for deafblind people.

Iain Gray: This information is not held centrally.

Community Care

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide funding for guide/communicators for deafblind people in areas which do not fund such a service.

Iain Gray: It is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the needs of deafblind people for services and to make provision for these within their budgets.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the work it and its agencies are doing to promote and develop the (i) opto-electronics industry, (ii) textile industry, (iii) dairy industry and (iv) food industry, and what was the relevant spend on each industry in each of the last three years and the current year.

Henry McLeish: These and other sectors are supported through a range of schemes and initiatives promoted by the Scottish Executive and its agencies, in particular the Enterprise Network. Scottish Enterprise has identified the opto-electronics and food and drink sectors (including the dairy industry) as priorities for cluster development and further details are available from the Scottish Enterprise website. I announced plans for developing public support for the textile industry on 12 June. Comprehensive information on the spend from public sources on these sectors is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Environment

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to promote improvements in the standard of bathing waters at the seven Scottish bathing beaches recently found to have failed to meet the European Union’s minimum standards.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Bathing Waters 1999 Bathing Water Quality Results report published by the Scottish Environment Protection   Agency contains information on the work which is being done at each bathing water. A copy of this report has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 6757).

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic speakers it expects to be resident in Scotland in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2015.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic speakers aged 15 or less it expects to be resident in Scotland in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2015.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: No official projection of the number of Gaelic speakers in Scotland is made.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what expert advice from language planners and other linguistic authorities has been taken with regard to any official projections of the number of Gaelic speakers resident in Scotland in 2005, 2010 and 2015.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: No official projections of the numbers of Gaelic speakers have been made. The Executive’s policy is that there should be opportunities for learning and using the language, in particular by supporting Gaelic-medium education where parents request it for their children.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parental requests for Gaelic-medium education have been received by local authorities in Scotland in the last five years.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The information requested is not held centrally, but the number of children in Gaelic-medium education has increased over the period.

Gas

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is invited to attend meetings between the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Gas Forum in order to ensure that the interests of Scottish business and the Scottish consumer are protected and, if so, whether it will report the progress of any such meetings to the Parliament.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has no function in respect to gas production and gas safety. These are reserved matters. However, the Scottish Utilities Forum was formed earlier this year to provide a means for the Executive and the Scottish Parliament to maintain and develop contact with the utility companies in Scotland, including the gas industry.

  The interests of Scottish gas consumers will be protected by a new Gas and Electricity Consumer Council, which is expected to set up an office in Scotland.

Genetically Modified Crops

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will destroy unauthorised GM crops in Scotland and whether it will seek compensation from the seed suppliers on behalf of those farms affected.

Ross Finnie: Following the decision of the EU Cereals Management Committee on 8 June, farmers may destroy affected crops without loss of Arable Area Payments. Compensation is a matter between Advanta and farmers who are discussing this.

Genetically Modified Crops

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to restrict the import of supposedly GM free crop seeds from countries in which separation distances between GM crops and GM free crops are less than is the case in the United Kingdom.

Ross Finnie: Under EC and international agreements seed imported from non-EC countries is subject to equivalent standards of field inspection and certification. These arrangements do not include separation distances between GM crops and non-GM crops. Spot checks of imported seeds to ensure that they do not contain GM material were introduced on 1 June.

Genetically Modified Crops

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains satisfied that a voluntary code of practice is a sufficient means of ensuring minimum separation distances between GM and non-GM crops or whether it has plans to introduce legislation in this regard.

Ross Finnie: The recent incident involving conventional seed accidentally containing a small proportion of GM seed has highlighted the question of separation distances between GM and other crops. The circumstances of the contamination are still being investigated but the evidence which emerges will form an important element of the UK review of separation distances which was announced on 8 June. The review, which aims to report in August, will consider whether existing arrangements are satisfactory but at present we have no plans to legislate in this area.

Genetically Modified Crops

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish advice to consumers wishing to avoid food containing ingredients which may have been produced from crops grown from conventional Advanta rapeseed contaminated with GM rapeseed.

Susan Deacon: Oil from the affected crop planted and harvested in 1999 will have been mixed with oil from other sources before being widely dispersed. In these circumstances there is no obvious way now to be able to identify for consumers those products which might contain minimal traces of GM derived oil. Scottish Ministers are fully committed to receiving rigorous testing and safety analysis of new food products derived through biotechnology.

Genetically Modified Food

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the sale or production of genetically modified salmon or other fish.

Susan Deacon: Scottish Executive policy on genetically modified organisms was set out during the parliamentary debate which took place on Thursday 23 March. Any application to produce or sell GM fish in this country would be required to pass the rigorous regulatory process, which we have in place, no such application has been made. Our policy and the regulatory process ensure that public health and environmental considerations are paramount.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Professor David Rowley to be an impartial and objective member of the Scottish Review team in relation to the funding position in Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, given his role as head of orthopaedics at Ninewells Hospital Dundee, non-executive member of the Tayside Health Board and chairman of Tayside Acute Services Review (phase 2).

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive believes that Professor Rowley has an important and valuable role to play as a member of the task force/review team and that his involvement will ensure that the work of the task force is fully informed of and builds upon the work carried out to date as part of the Tayside Acute Services Review.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have contracted Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and other infections at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow during the last five years.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to protect patients from contracting Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and other infections at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow.

Susan Deacon: Infection control is the responsibility of NHS Trusts who are expected to act in accordance with guidance set out in the Scottish Infection Control Manual and other nationally agreed recommendations.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2890 by Susan Deacon on 15 December 1999, why information relating to health and safety enforcement orders is not held centrally.

Susan Deacon: It is entirely a matter for individual NHS Trusts to ensure that the NHS estate complies with current legislative standards.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland have complained of suffering from organophosphate poisoning in the last five years.

Susan Deacon: Expert advice is that it is difficult to establish diagnostic criteria for organophosphate poisoning, other than acute poisoning cases which are rare. Therefore, there has been no central data collection.

  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is currently commissioning work to address the most common patterns of exposure, clinical presentation and subsequent clinical course among people in the UK with chronic illnesses that they attribute to OPs.

  An independent scrutiny of case reports involving sheep dip Human Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme database will also be conducted.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its share from the £22 billion Her Majesty’s Treasury has collected through selling licences for third generation mobile phones will be spent on medical research into possible injury to health through mobile phones and mobile phone masts.

Susan Deacon: Matters relating to receipts from the auction of spectrum licences for third generation mobile communications are for the UK Government. A comprehensive programme of research on health related issues flowing from the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, to which industry, the UK Government and the Scottish Executive will contribute, is currently being drawn up.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government on the sale of licences for third generation mobile phones, any concerns over possible health risks caused by mobile phones and mobile phone masts and any potential increase in this risk through the erection of more mobile phone masts in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is in close contact with HM Government over a range of matters flowing from the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, published on 11 May, including the commissioning of a research programme on health-related aspects.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking any steps to co-ordinate the procurement of NHS equipment on a Scotland-wide basis.

Susan Deacon: The procurement of NHS equipment is undertaken by NHS Trust supplies departments. There are a large number of national contracts set up by Scottish Healthcare Supplies for Trusts to use. NHS Trusts are encouraged to use the services of Scottish Healthcare Supplies where possible to assist in major procurement exercises.

  A centrally led initiative to procure cancer treating equipment was completed recently which secured savings of around £1 million on an asset total of £7 million. A second round of purchasing, again on an all Scotland basis, is now underway.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are savings to be made from co-ordination of NHS procurement.

Susan Deacon: At the recent NHS Conference in Peebles the establishment of a National Network Group to consider smarter ways of managing capital projects and delivering value for money in procurement was announced. This group will seek out best practice across the NHS in Scotland and identify opportunities for greater efficiencies and savings.

  The work of the National Network Group will complement work already underway by Scottish Healthcare Supplies and the NHS Trusts to establish a greater use of national contracts. Scottish Healthcare Supplies is also examining the scope for introducing logistics management and greater co-ordination into NHS procurement.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many neonatal intensive care units there are in each health board.

Susan Deacon: Information is collected centrally about neonatal facilities, not specifically about neonatal intensive care units; babies requiring intensive care are normally treated in such facilities. The following table shows the average number of staffed beds in neonatal facilities for each NHS hospital in Scotland:

  





Average available
staffed beds




Aberdeen Maternity Hospital


40




Ayrshire Central & Maternity Hospital


25




Bellshill Maternity Hospital


34




Cresswell Maternity Hospital


12




Dr Gray’s Hospital


4




Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary


12




Forth Park Hospital


20




Inverclyde Royal Hospital


7




Law Hospital


10




Ninewells Hospital


24




Perth Royal Infirmary


10




Queen Mother’s Hospital


29




Raigmore Hospital


20




Royal Alexandra Hospital


12




Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow


33




Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion


45




Southern General Hospital


16




St John’s Hospital at Howden


14




Stirling Royal Infirmary


5




Vale of Leven District General Hospital


8




Scotland


380




  Source: ISD Scotland (Form ISD(S)1).

  Notes:

  Figures are as at 31 March 2000 and are provisional.

  Excludes NHS beds in joint-user and contractual hospitals.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mortality and morbidity rates are for infants born prematurely, by health board, for the last years for which figures are available.

Susan Deacon: The table below shows the mortality rates for infants born prematurely. Information on morbidity for all pre-term infants is not available from current data sources.

  

 

Pre-term Livebirths1, 
2


Pre-term Infant Deaths1, 
2


Pre-term Infant Death Rates 1 
2 3




Health Board of Residence


1996


1997


1998


1996


1997


1998


1996


1997


1998




Argyll and Clyde


330


338


339


24


16


18


72.7


47.3


53.1




Ayrshire and Arran


292


304


261


13


10


10


44.5


32.9


38.3




Borders


72


74


66


2


3


5


*


*


*




Dumfries and Galloway


107


90


85


8


3


3


*


*


*




Fife


260


256


298


15


10


8


57.7


39.1


*




Forth valley


196


193


208


14


8


13


71.4


*


62.5




Grampian


385


386


433


13


16


25


33.8


41.5


57.7




Greater Glasgow


801


832


815


47


38


34


58.7


45.7


41.7




Highland


128


161


163


7


4


9


*


*


*




Lanarkshire


475


446


446


32


27


15


67.4


60.5


33.6




Lothian


656


646


563


31


21


30


47.3


32.5


53.3




Orkney


8


10


8


0


0


0


0


0


0




Shetland


16


21


18


0


0


1


0


0


*




Tayside


303


307


305


10


6


12


33


*


39.3




Western Isles


10


9


13


0


0


0


0


0


0




Scotland


4,09


4,03


4,021


216


162


183


53.5


39.8


45.5




  Rates are not shown for less than 10 deaths.

  Notes:

  1. Pre-term is defined as less than 37 weeks gestation.

  2. Infant deaths are live-born who die within the first year of life.

  3. Rate per 1,000 pre-term live births.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve outcomes for babies born prematurely.

Susan Deacon: The Public Health White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland addresses some of the antecedent causes of low birth weight and prematurity including smoking.

  The Scottish Executive together with the Scottish Programme for Clinical Effectiveness in Reproductive Health (SPCERH), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives is taking forward a number of studies into issues around prematurity. These include: the Scottish Still Births and Infant Deaths survey to look at the incidence and any antecedent causes of prematurity and the Confidential Enquiry into Sudden Deaths of Infants study into babies born at 27 and 28 weeks. SPCERH have produced guidelines on the management of pre-term foetus, pre-eclampsia and non-proteinuria hypertension, all of which can be associated with premature delivery.

  The Chief Nursing Officer is chairing a Maternity Services Reference Group which is looking at the development of a National Services Framework for the delivery of maternity services in Scotland and this will look at all aspects of maternity care and will report in autumn 2000.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any vaccination programmes in schools have been reduced or suspended because of a shortage of the BCG vaccine.

Susan Deacon: Due to vaccine supply difficulties, the schools BCG vaccination programme across the UK was suspended in October 1999. Meantime, vaccine is still available to high-risk groups.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the outcome of accountability reviews of health boards and health trusts.

Susan Deacon: I expect health boards and NHS Trusts to hold full and open discussions about the outcome of Accountability Reviews at public sessions of their board meetings. It is important that key messages given and actions agreed at the reviews are promulgated locally in this way and through incorporation in public documents such as Health Improvement Programmes, Corporate Contracts and Trust Implementation Plans. The Scottish Executive has no plans to publish separate records of the Accountability Reviews.

Health

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many radiographers are employed (a) in total, (b) by health board area and (c) in each hospital.

Susan Deacon: The latest information available centrally on numbers of qualified radiographers employed in the NHS in Scotland is shown in the table. Information by hospital location is not held centrally.

  Qualified Radiographers employed in the NHS in Scotland by Health Board

  Whole Time Equivalent: at 30 September 1999p

  


Scotland


1,193.0




Ayrshire and Arran


70.5




Borders


17.4




Argyll and Clyde


71.7




Fife


48.0




Dumfries and Galloway


20.5




Greater Glasgow


313.1




Highland


44.7




Lanarkshire


97.4




Grampian


123.5




Orkney


2.9




Lothian


209.2




Tayside


120.5




Forth Valley


43.8




Western Isles


5.8




Shetland


4.0




  P provisional

  Source: National Manpower Statistics from payroll

  ISD Scotland

Health

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many radiologists are employed (a) in total, (b) by health board area and (c) in each hospital.

Susan Deacon: The numbers of radiologists employed in the NHS in Scotland by health boards are shown in the attached table. Information by hospital location is not held centrally. The table should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  Radiologists employed in the NHS in Scotland by Health Board.

  Whole time equivalents at 30 September 1999

  


Scotland


 266.2




Ayrshire & Arran 


 10.0




Borders 


 4.6




Argyll & Clyde 


 11.3




Fife 


 7.1




Dumfries & Galloway 


3.0




Greater Glasgow 


 87.9




Highland 


 8.0




Lanarkshire 


 17.7




Grampian 


 26.9




Orkney 


 0.3




Lothian 


 59.5




Tayside


 24.0




Forth Valley 


 5.0




Western Isles 


 1.0




Shetland 


0




  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Staffing data is collected once a year, as at 30 September.

  3. Data as at 30 September 1999 is provisional.

  4. Staff in radiology comprises diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make people travelling abroad on business or holiday pay the full cost of necessary vaccinations.

Susan Deacon: We have no such plans at present.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit, aims and objectives of "modernisation action teams" are.

Susan Deacon: Modernisation Action Teams were announced by the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, as part of England’s modernisation plans for the NHS. I have announced plans to establish a Modernisation Board to drive forward the Executive’s programme for modernising and improving the NHS in Scotland.

  The board will provide advice to Ministers on the modernisation programme and the priorities for new investment, will champion success by identifying best practice and ensuring that it is shared across Scotland and ensure that national policy develops in response to local aspirations for service modernisation and vice versa.

  Membership of the Modernisation Board will be drawn from the professions, from NHS staff, patients and management. It is expected that the board will meet monthly with the first meeting planned for July.

Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total central grant funding to Higher Education institutions was per student in each year since 1978-79 in real terms and at 1998-99 prices.

Henry McLeish: Information is not available in the format or time period requested. Scottish universities were not funded from the Scottish block until 1993-94. Funding for higher education institutions is not centrally allocated. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) receives a grant each year from the Scottish Executive which is then allocated to individual higher education institutions for a range of purposes. The main grant for teaching is allocated on the basis of student numbers and a range of unit costs for various subject areas. (In addition, institutions received income from tuition fees for each student.) Other grants (such as for research) are not allocated on the basis of student numbers. It is, however, for institutions to manage the total grant they receive.

  Information is given below which shows the total grant, the grant allocated for teaching and the associated number of student places. Places are on a full-time equivalent basis (FTE) so may not reflect the actual numbers of students:

  


Academic year


Total Grant
£ million



Total Grant
£ million
(1998-99 prices)


Teaching Grant
£ million


Teaching Grant
£ million
(1998-99 prices)


Student places eligible for 
funding (FTE) (planned)


Student places eligible for 
funding (FTE)
(actual)




1993-94


363


415


222


254


-


110,723




1994-95


483


545


319


360


-


114,452




1995-96


491


538


331


363


118,200


116,361




1996-97


531


564


343


364


118,000


117,506




1997-98


551


569


355


367


118,700


119,260




1998-99


574


574


424


424


118,700


120,523




1999-2000


599


584


438


427


118,700


121,224

Housing

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received on plans to extend the right to buy to tenants of registered social landlords, including non-charitable housing associations, which (a) support the plans and (b) oppose the plans.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Over 950 representations have been received in response to the Executive’s housing bill proposals. The majority were part of an organised postcard campaign concerned with the possible impact of an extended right to buy on housing associations’ viability. Some supported the proposed changes whilst others were concerned about the availability of social housing, particularly in rural areas, where the current exemption from the right to buy has been ineffective in practice. The Executive is in discussion with key housing interests to agree a response to these and other concerns.

Housing

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the outstanding total rent arrears of former council tenants, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Information on the rent arrears of former council house tenants is not held centrally.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any "safety nets" for repairs bills affecting private owners of former council houses in the proposals for housing stock transfer.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Transfers offer opportunities for new initiatives to promote owner occupation and to assist existing owners. These opportunities should be considered by those developing transfer proposals. In general, however, before buying any property, prospective purchasers would be well advised to commission a survey and take into account the costs of future repairs and maintenance.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5914 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 May 2000, why Glasgow City Council’s share of capital investment in council housing fell from 21.7% of Scotland’s total in 1996-97 to 15.1% in 1999-2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Capital investment in council housing is funded from borrowing consents allocated by the Executive, and usable receipts and revenue surpluses generated by councils themselves. Relative changes between Glasgow and other councils in the latter two elements are the main reason for the reduction in Glasgow’s share of the overall expenditure over the period.

Housing

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the steps to be taken in the consultation process regarding the proposal to transfer Glasgow’s council housing stock.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The detail of the consultation process with tenants and others is a matter for Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Housing Association. The statutory requirements in relation to tenant consultation are set out in Schedule 6A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as inserted by Schedule 16 of the Housing Act 1988.

Influenza

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its plans for the administration of the recently announced expanded flu vaccine programme.

Susan Deacon: I shall make a further announcement later this year.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number was of accused persons who appeared on Petition at Sheriff Courts in Scotland charged with murder during the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 and the number from whom pleas to culpable homicide were accepted by the Crown, broken down by gender.

Neil Davidson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not collect routine information which is either charge or gender specific and, accordingly, I am not in a position to provide this information.

Justice

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the MacLean Committee’s review of the sentencing and treatment of serious violent and sexual offenders will be available.

Mr Jim Wallace: Lord MacLean’s Committee published its report today. I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in SPICe.

  The Executive welcomes the work done by Lord MacLean and his committee which enables us take forward one of the commitments in A Programme for Government. The report contains a series of detailed and useful recommendations covering the sentencing and management of serious violent and sexual offenders who present a continuing risk to the public. We intend to consult immediately on the report’s findings and, in the light of responses, publish a White Paper with proposals for legislation as soon as practicable.

Local Government

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4928 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 9 June 2000, whether it will identify the specific land or property disposed of by Dumfries and Galloway Council, East Lothian Council, Scottish Borders Council and South Ayrshire Council.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The following consents have been granted since 1 July 1999:

  South Ayrshire:

  Plots 1 & 2, The Citadel, Ayr, to Carrick Housing Association

  Dumfries & Galloway:

  The former Grapes Hotel, Whithorn, to Loreburn Housing Association

  East Lothian:

  The former sun pavilion at North Berwick Harbour, to the Scottish Seabird Trust

  Scottish Borders:

  Land to the south of Morebattle Primary School, Morebattle, to Eildon Housing Association

Local Government Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the revenue support grant provided to North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and East Ayrshire Council in each of the past three years, including the current financial year; what grant will be provided for 2000-01; what annual percentage change in real terms these figures represent over the four year period and what percentage of grant aided expenditure for each council for each year these grant figures represent.

Mr Jack McConnell: The total government grant, known as Aggregate External Finance (AEF), given to councils for the four years 1997-98 to 2000-01, expressed in real terms using the September 1999 Retail Price Index, is shown in the following table:

  





Aggregate External Finance 
(AEF)1







1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01




North Lanarkshire




AEF at 1999 prices


338.292


332.046


336.005


345.867




% increase on previous year 


..


-1.8


1.2


2.9




AEF as a percentage of Grant Aided Expenditure 
(%)


97.2


94.7


93.6


94.1




South Lanarkshire




AEF at 1999 prices


308.348


297.987


305.589


313.719




% increase on previous year 


..


-3.4


2.6


2.7




AEF as a percentage of Grant Aided Expenditure 
(%)


96.3


92.9


92.6


92.3




East Ayrshire




AEF at 1999 prices


127.707


127.672


127.020


130.850




% increase on previous year 


..


0.0


-0.5


3.0




AEF as a percentage of Grant Aided Expenditure 
(%)


95.8


95.1


92.5


93.7




  Source: prices based on RPI as at September 1999.

  Notes:

  1. AEF figures adjusted to exclude Urban Program adjustment for years 1997-98 to 1999-2000.

Local Government Finance

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount was raised in non-domestic rates in 1999-2000, and what total amount will be raised in 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: Based on the most recent information available, it is estimated that around £1,500.163 million will be raised in non-domestic rates for 1999-2000. We estimate that £1,550 million will be raised for 2000-01, the same in real terms as for 1999-2000.

Local Government Finance

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisional outturn figure of £486.44 million for roads and transport expenditure by Scottish local authorities in the financial year 1996-97, and the budget estimates for 1999-2000 of £354.79 million given by the Finance Minister in his answer to question S1W-665 are accurate, and whether these figures are consistent with the answer given by the Finance Minister to the supplementary question to S1O-1636 on 4 April 2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: I can confirm that the provisional outturn figure for 1996-97, adjusted to 1998-99 prices, was £486.44 million and the budget estimate figure for 1999-2000, in cash terms, was £354.79 million as given in my reply to question S1W-665. Since 1 April 1997 these figures have excluded support for Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive which was £105.6 million in 1997-98.

NHS Expenditure

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it can provide for the varying levels of annual inflation within health budgets in terms of procurement costs, wages and other items of expenditure for each year since 1995.

Susan Deacon: In line with other public expenditure programmes, inflation in the Health Programme is taken to be the GDP deflator. Details of the annual percentage change in the GDP deflator, the percentage cash and the real terms increases in the Health Programme are as follows:

  

 

Outturn
£ million


%
Cash
Increase


GDP
Deflator


%
Real Terms
Increase




1994-95


3,948


4.5


1.4


3.1




1995-96


4,092


3.6


2.9


0.7




1996-97


4,237


3.5


3.2


0.3




1997-98


4,354


2.8


2.8


0




1998-99


4,589


5.4


3.3


2.0




1999-2000*


5,076


10.6


2.5


7.9




2000-01+


5,415


6.7


2.3


4.3




2001-02+


5,822


7.5


2.5


4.9




2002-03+


6,241


7.2


2.5


4.6




2003-04+


6,694


7.3


2.5


4.6




  *Estimated outturn

  +Planned Expenditure

NHS Funding

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing some form of bridging funding for the health service in Glasgow in order to address the special problems it has due to the scale of acute hospital changes and relocation of facilities required to implement the recommendations of the Carter review.

Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board is working closely with its partner Trusts on an ambitious programme to modernise and improve acute health services across the city. The health board will need to demonstrate that the costs of any specific proposals are affordable within the overall revenue allocation it receives from the Scottish Executive Health Department; no separate bridging funds are allocated for acute hospital services and bids for strategic capital investment must represent value for money.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why £164.508 million was transferred from capital expenditure to revenue expenditure in the NHSiS from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 inclusive.

Susan Deacon: As explained in the answer to question S1W-6114, capital to revenue transfers were made annually to enable health boards and NHS Trusts to meet the costs of minor projects and non-added value elements of capital schemes. In addition, some resources were transferred to provide revenue support to assist NHS Trusts meet their financial targets.

  From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Trusts can transfer resources from capital to revenue expenditure without its permission, whether such permission was previously required and, if so, when this position changed.

Susan Deacon: Health boards and NHS Trusts are required to seek permission from the Scottish Executive to transfer resources from capital to revenue.

  From 2000-01 onwards, all capital funds must be spent on capital items.

NHS Funding

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4728 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, what percentage of each health board’s budget increase for years 2000-01 and 2001-02 has been earmarked for work on specific national projects, targets and pilot schemes, broken down by project/target/scheme and expressed in both cash and real terms.

Susan Deacon: None. Health boards are given a unified budget to enable them to meet the health care needs of their resident populations. It is for health boards to decide how best to meet national and local priorities, and to reflect them in their Health Improvement Programmes. The development and implementation of these programmes is monitored by the Executive.

NHS Funding

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4687 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, what each health board’s unified budget was for 1999-2000 and will be in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is as shown in the following table:

  


Health Board


1999-2000
Unified
Budget
£ million


2000-01
Unified
Budget
£ million


2001-02
Unified
Budget
£ million




Argyll & Clyde


340.387


358.820


382.431




Ayrshire & Arran


290.769


306.020


327.407




Borders


84.270


88.751


94.688




Dumfries & Galloway


122.338


128.738


136.756




Fife


252.612


266.800


285.641




Forth Valley


203.285


214.578


227.710




Grampian


364.671


383.820


407.320




Greater Glasgow


732.698


772.366


830.670




Highland


164.081


172.872


185.840




Lanarkshire


407.882


430.153


460.194




Lothian


542.190


571.511


610.249




Orkney


16.127


16.887


18.119




Shetland


19.201


20.172


21.339




Tayside


 320.713


337.926


357.952




Western Isles


29.481


30.893


33.081




  Note: Unified Budgets for 2001-02 are indicative and will change following the Spending Review.

  These figures do not include the additional resources of £173 million for 2000-01 and £268 million for 2001-02 made available to the Health Budget which was announced in the Scottish Parliament on 30 March.

NHS Funding

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4687 by Susan Deacon on 26 April 2000, what the real terms increase in each health board’s unified budget will be between 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is as shown in the following table:

  


Health Board


Real Terms
Increase
%




Argyll & Clyde


3.98




Ayrshire & Arran


4.38




Borders


4.09




Dumfries & Galloway


3.64




Fife


4.45




Forth Valley


3.53




Grampian


3.53




Greater Glasgow


4.93




Highland


4.88




Lanarkshire


4.37




Lothian


4.17




Orkney


4.68




Shetland


3.21




Tayside


3.34




Western Isles


4.47




  These figures are based on the allocations for 2000-01 notified to health boards on 5 January and indicative allocations for 2001-02 and so do not include the additional resources of £173 million for 2000-01 and £268 million for 2001-02 made available to the Health Budget which was announced in the Scottish Parliament on 30 March. The 2001-02 indicative allocations will change following the Spending Review.

NHS Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W- 6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Argyll & Clyde Health Board of £15.712 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Argyll & Clyde Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Ayr & Arran Health Board of £1.084 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Ayr & Arran Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Dumfries and Galloway Health Board of £2.292 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Dumfries and Galloway Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Fife Health Board of £940,000 from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Fife Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Forth Valley Health Board of £4.619 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Forth Valley Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Greater Glasgow Health Board of £27.315 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Greater Glasgow Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Highland Health Board of £5.815 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Highland Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lanarkshire Health Board of £11.038 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Lanarkshire Health Board Area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1995-96 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Lothian Health Board of £17.311 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Lothian Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Orkney Health Board of £161,000 from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Orkney Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Shetland Health Board of £1.754 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Shetland Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Tayside Health Board of £8.983 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Tayside Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Borders Health Board of £245,000 from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Borders Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can explain why there was a cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by the NHS across Scotland of £97.392 million from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, what impact it considers the cumulative real terms reduction in capital expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment by Grampian Health Board of £868,000 from 1995-96 to 1998-99 inclusive has had on modernising equipment, improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting lists in the Grampian Health Board area; whether it intends to restore this expenditure to 1994-95 levels and, if so, over what time period.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6113 by Susan Deacon on 8 May 2000, whether it can explain why Greater Glasgow Health Board’s (GGHB) share of NHSiS expenditure on the provision or replacement of equipment fell from 24.5% in 1994-95 to 14.2% in 1998-99 and what plans it has to restore GGHB’s share of equipment investment to the 1994-95 level.

Susan Deacon: It is for individual health boards and NHS Trusts to determine annually the level of funding required for new and replacement medical equipment taking into account other local priorities. Health boards and NHS Trusts can use both capital and revenue resources to meet equipment costs.

  Capital investment in the NHS in Scotland continues to increase from £136 million in 1998-99 to £179 million in 2000-01, rising further to £194 million in 2001-02.

  Information about the impact of local expenditure levels on medical equipment can be obtained from the health board.

NHS Funding

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total health spending in Scotland was in each year from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and what total health spending is forecast to be in 2000-01 and 2002-03, taking into account all recent announcements of new health spending.

Susan Deacon: The information is as follows:

  

 

£ million




1997-98


4,354




1998-99


4,589




1999-2000*


5,076




2000-01+


5,415




2001-02+


5,822




2002-03+


6,241




  * Estimated Outturn

  + Planned Expenditure

Public Appointments

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4370 by Mr Jack McConnell on 12 April 2000, whether it will list, in relation to the political activities of individuals appointed to public bodies between 1 April and 31 December 1999, the names of (a) the 18 individuals who fell within category A and (b) the 26 individuals who fell within category B, indicating in each case the nature of their public appointment.

Mr Jack McConnell: The information requested is set out in the table below:

  


Name and Position Held


Body


Category A


Category B




Mr John Findlay (Member)


Argyll and Clyde Health Board

 

4 




Mr I G Mitchell QC (Member)


Central Advisory Committee on Justice of the 
Peace

 

4 




Mr W A Ratter (Member)


Crofters Commission


4 

 



Ms Jeanette Burness (Member)


Forth Valley Health Board


4 

 



Ms Teresa McNally (Member)


Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust


4 

 



Ms Jane Darnbrough (Member)


Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee


4 

 



Lord Wilson of Tillyorn (Member)


National Museums of Scotland

 

4 




Ms Christina Macaulay (Member)


National Museums of Scotland

 

4 




Mr Robert Murray (Member)


North of Scotland Water Authority


4 


4 




Mr Stephen Hagan (Member)


North of Scotland Water Authority


4 

 



Ms Yvonne Allan (Member)


North of Scotland Water Authority


4 


4 




Ms Elizabeth Cameron (Member)


Scottish Arts Council


4 


4 




Mr Ron Presswood (Member)


Scottish Arts Council 


4 


4 




Mr J S Moncrieff (Member)


Scottish Arts Council

 

4 




Mr Harry McGuigan (Member)


Scottish Children’s Report Administration


4 

 



Mr Brian Souter (Member)


Scottish Enterprise

 

4 




Mr Ian Ritchie (Member)


Scottish Enterprise

 

4 




Ms Christine May (Member)


Scottish Enterprise


4 


4 




Mr Ken Collins (Chair)


Scottish Environment Protection Agency


4 

 



Ms Susan Clark (Member)


Scottish Environment Protection Agency


4 

 



Mr Bill Howatson (Member)


Scottish Environment Protection Agency


4 

 



Ms Rowena Arshad (Member)


Scottish Higher Education Funding Council


4 


4 




Prof. Colin Bell (Member)


Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

 

4 




Ms Christine May (Member)


Scottish Homes


4 


4 




Canon L S Smith (Member)


Scottish Homes


4 

 



Mr Ian Borthwick


Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust


4 

 



Mr David Hamilton (Member)


East of Scotland Water Authority


4 


4 




Mr Donald Campbell (Member)


West of Scotland Water Authority


4 

 



Ms Rita Miller (Member) (subsequently 
resigned)


West of Scotland Water Authority


4 


4 




Totals 

 

21


17




  The total number of appointees coming within the scope of Categories A and B differs from that given in my answer to question S1W-4370. The figures contained within my earlier answer were incorrect. These inaccuracies only came to light when collating the detailed information requested for this answer.

  I have investigated this matter and instructed that arrangements be put in place to ensure that accurate statistical records are maintained. This has been done.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5865 by Sarah Boyack on 8 May 2000 and if the direction and guidance to be given to the Strategic Rail Authority will not contain detailed prescription about infrastructure, (a) what proposals in Railtrack’s 2000 Network Management Statement for Scotland it will comment on and seek to have implemented, (b) which points in the statement it will support in its direction and guidance and (c) what vision it has for the expansion of rail line in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive’s vision is for Scotland’s railways to play a full and growing part in a sustainable, effective and integrated transport system which is accessible and safe, and which meets economic and social needs without threatening the health of our environment. The proposals outlined in Railtrack’s 2000 Network Management Statement for Scotland  will help inform the Executive’s consideration of the strategic priorities for developing such a railway network. These priorities will underpin the directions and guidance that will be issued to the Strategic Rail Authority for the passenger services that begin and end in Scotland. We will publish those directions and guidance. In addition, we will shortly issue guidance to the SRA on the East Coast Main Line franchise, which we will also publish.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any input and representation it made to the National Rail Summit.

Sarah Boyack: Officials from the Scottish Executive Development Department attended the national Rail Summit held in London on 25 May.

Rail Network

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted advice to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority on the east coast mainline passenger rail franchise.

Sarah Boyack: I submitted advice today to the Chief Executive of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority on the replacement of the east coast mainline franchise. He will take account of the advice when making his decision on the preferred bid for the franchise. He will also consider it when agreeing the details of the franchise agreement with the successful bidder.

  The advice includes the Scottish Executive’s views on how the new franchise will best fit with the development of an integrated transport policy for Scotland. It also includes operational proposals and considers the relationship between enhanced east coast mainline services and the provision of local and regional railway services within Scotland.

  A copy of the advice will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Roads

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its stated objectives were in relation to the A701 Transport Challenge Fund bid from Midlothian Council; what requirements were placed on the council in relation to this funding, and whether each of these requirements was met in full.

Sarah Boyack: In February 1997 Mr Michael Forsyth, the then Secretary of State for Scotland, advised Midlothian Council that their application for Transport Challenging Funding involving a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) had been successful and that £2.5 million had been awarded towards the council’s proposals. These were intended to construct a stretch of dual carriageway from New Milton to Straiton and included a package of measures which would allow the use of the existing A701 as a dedicated route for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists and local traffic. The then Government’s objective was to help support proportionally large capital projects which would not otherwise have been affordable in terms of local authorities’ likely level of roads and transport resources. The council was required to submit to The Scottish Office by 29 August 1997 an Action Plan detailing its intentions and timetable for the project and subsequently to submit, periodically, short factual monitoring reports about the project. The Action Plan was received in August 1997 and a number of monitoring reports have been received since then. The council was required to satisfy itself that the proposed PFI project had the potential to deliver value for money and had to secure the agreement of The Scottish Office that it fell within the criteria for a PFI deal. Subsequently, Scottish Ministers agreed to the council’s request that the A701 project should be pursued through conventional funding, including the monies advanced from the Transport Challenge Fund.

Roads

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its departments or agencies will have any involvement in the ongoing development and implementation of Midlothian Council’s proposals to upgrade the A701.

Sarah Boyack: There are no Scottish Executive departments or agencies which have any involvement in the ongoing development and implementation of Midlothian Council’s proposals to upgrade the A701.

Scottish Executive Correspondence

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters it has received from members of the UK Parliament who are not members of the Scottish Parliament since 1 July 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested in relation to how many letters received from members of the UK Parliament who are not members of the Scottish Parliament since 1 July 1999 is not available. The information we can provide is detailed below. These figures exclude the Scottish Executive Justice Department, for which this disaggregation is not available.

  


Number of letters received 
from MPs between 1 July 1999 and 31 May 2000


Number of letters received 
from MSPs between 1 July 1999 and 31 May 2000




2,508


6,202

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, have been created in or transferred to Fife since 6 May 1999.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive and its agencies currently have 114 staff in the Fife local authority area. No additional permanent posts have been created in or transferred to Fife since 6 May 1999.

  The Executive’s policy on location and relocation of civil service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 (S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP). When opportunities arise potential locations across Scotland will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with our objectives of efficiency and effectiveness.

Tourism

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of its business tourism strategy, it will develop an events strategy to help exhibition and other centres to market and develop shows, festivals and exhibitions to supplement the existing support for conferences.

Henry McLeish: This type of support is generally provided effectively by the local area in which an event takes place, should it be considered to be of benefit.

Transport

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4521 by Sarah Boyack on 2 March 2000, whether it will give details of the UK-wide consultation exercise on overhauling road traffic regulation law and whether it will provide specific details of the consultation it had with and the representations it received from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland on the issue of the inspection of orange badges.

Sarah Boyack: On 8 August 1996 the previous Government announced a thorough overhaul of road traffic regulation law. A consultation document was issued seeking comments on specific proposals relating to traffic regulation orders, parking controls, speed limits, traffic signs and the inspection of orange badges. In their response of 15 October 1996, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland made a number of comments but not on the measures relating to the Orange Badge Scheme.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government on the 10-year transport strategy.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is keeping in close contact with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions during development of the strategy.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of the Road Haulage Association’s plans for an essential user rebate.

Sarah Boyack: Any proposals that are put to the Scottish Executive by the Road Haulage Association for an essential user rebate will be carefully considered. However, if such proposals are linked to the taxation system then the issue would be a reserved matter for consideration by HM Treasury.

Transport Operatives Pension Scheme

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to enable surplus money within the Transport Operatives Pension Scheme to be paid out, and what the expected timescale is for distributing this surplus.

Sarah Boyack: On wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group, the Scottish Executive will bring forward for Parliament’s approval a Dissolution Order which will prescribe to whom the group should pay the surplus funds. The processes involved, including the wind-up of the two Scottish Transport Group pension schemes, are complex and it is not envisaged that the Order will be brought forward until the autumn.

Voluntary Sector

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-examine liability for registration costs for voluntary organisations which work with children and young people.

Mr Jim Wallace: A Review Group, which is chaired by Jackie Baillie, Deputy Minister for Communities, is considering the impact of charges for criminal records on the voluntary sector including registration costs. The group is meeting regularly and hopes to reach conclusions later this year.

Working Groups

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the task forces, working groups, review groups, action groups and similar committees established by the Minister for Children and Education and his deputy ministers since 6 May 1999 and when each group is expected to publish its report.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Four such groups have been established since 6 May 1999:

  National Cultural Strategy Focus Group (set up July 1999); Cultural Strategy to be published soon.

  Digital Scotland Task Force (set up October 1999); report published on 22 May 2000.

  The Gaelic Organisations Task Force (set up December 1999); due to report in late July 2000.

  Working Group on Sex Education (set up February 2000); reported 16 June.

Youth Crime

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are available on projects that promote alternatives to offending for young people in Scotland and what percentage of these places are provided using short-term rather than long-term funding.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally. Most projects addressing offending behaviour are funded by local authorities or voluntary organisations to reflect local need and circumstances.

  However, the Executive announced on 9 June an additional £3 million in the current year for local authorities to develop mainstream projects to deal with offending behaviour among young people as effective alternatives to custody. The Executive intends to increase this provision in future years as part of its action plan on youth crime.